Cold Feet writer Mike Bullen writes new season’s episodes on northern beaches

THE latest series of Cold Feet, the hit TV show about the ups and downs of relationships that helped launch the careers of British actors James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale, was created in a Sydney suburb.

Actor Helen Baxendale with James Nesbitt in scene from TV program "Cold Feet". /TV/programs/Titles/Cold/Feet

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THE new series of hit British TV show Cold Feet was born on the northern beaches.

Writer Mike Bullen, who lives in Newport, is currently in northern England filming the long-awaited return of the Channel 7 fave, which made actors James Nesbitt and Helen Baxendale stars.

It ran from 1997-2003, and will return, to British TV at least — no Aussie broadcaster has yet signed up — this year.

Mike Bullen is a UK TV writer/director who has moved to Sydney from England - never to return.

The first few episodes were written in Bullen’s writing room in Newport.

“I was sitting in Australia trying to put myself in Manchester,” said the 56-year-old

Bullen moved to the northern beaches from the UK after the show finished in 2003 — while fans were still drying their tears following character Rachel’s death in a car crash.

He lives with his wife Lisa and two teenage daughters- and admits TV has changed a lot since his biggest show was on.

Filming of Cold Feet in Sydney in 2001. Picture: James Morgan/Granada Productions

Those days there was no Netflix, no downloads and merely video recorders if you were out when a show was on.

“Although the way TV is watched has changed, people still crave good TV,” he said.

“There’s an appetite to binge watch- that's why we’re making eight episodes instead of six.”

However, the shoot hasn’t all gone smoothly for Mike, who won’t return to Sydney until the winter.

He was running to watch a British rugby game and fell over a bollard in the street.

Not a good thing to do considering he’s still actually writing the scripts for the show.

“I can still type. The producer said ‘are you all right? Which arm is it?’ In fact I think she asked that first.” he said.

Mike Bullen with hsi daughter at his Newport home.

Bullen’s also just written his first novel, Trust.

He penned that in the Bungan Beach cottage of his pal, BBC correspondent Michael Michael Peschardt.

And he thanks some unusual locals in the book — including Sky Personal Training in Mona Vale

“Being a writer you’re just in your head every day, and I really needed to do some exercise.

“I owe it to them that I finished the book.”

Meanwhile, Cold Feet once had an episode set in Sydney. Could it return?

“There’s a chance but not this series. In fact you’ve given me an idea. Rachel’s sister lives in Sydney and Pete’s ex wife is Australian ...”